Target for archery made of polymer foam intended to be thrown into the air

ABSTRACT

A target ( 2 ) for archery intended to be thrown into the air and capable of being impacted by an arrow is characterized in that the target ( 2 ) includes at least three layers ( 12, 13 ) of polymer foam. The target will find an application in sports training and/or game in archery.

The present invention relates to a target for archery and a system including at least a target for archery and a device intended to throw targets.

The invention will find an application in sports training and/or game in archery.

Conventionally, archery uses fixed targets positioned at some distance from the bowman. Such targets, which are often made of packed straw, are of sufficient dimensions to rest on a tripod support and to be visible from a certain distance.

Even though several sports exist indoors, outdoors, on courses, the opportunities of different shootings are limited and not very dynamic.

The need exists for a target making it possible to dynamically practice archery.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a target for archery intended to be thrown into the air and capable of being impacted by an arrow, characterized in that the target includes at least three layers formed of polymer foam.

Preferably, the target is made of polymer foam such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyvinyl, and/or polyolefin.

The target is capable of being perforated by an arrow for archery. Archery then becomes dynamic and the bowman must aim at a target which is mobile in various directions.

The polymer foam target is adapted for archery and can thus be, at least partially, gone through by an arrow, while being re-usable.

The target can also be manually or preferably thrown by an automatic mobile targets throwing device.

Throwing polymer foam targets with the device according to the invention is particularly efficient.

Other aims and advantages will appear during the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is not a limitation thereof, though.

According to preferred, but not limitative alternative solutions, the target according to the invention is such that:

-   -   the target includes at least two peripheral layers and at least         a central layer interposed between the peripheral layers,     -   the central layer has a density higher than the density of the         peripheral layers,     -   the density of the material of the central layer is         approximately 65 kg/m3, that of the peripheral layers being         approximately 33 kg/m3,     -   the central layer has a thickness greater than that of the         peripheral layers,     -   the thickness of the central layer is between 20 and 90         millimetres,     -   the thickness of the peripheral layers is between 7 and 20         millimetres,     -   the thickness of the target is between 30 millimetres and 150         millimetres,     -   the polymer foam forming the target includes at least materials         among polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polyethylene and/or         polyvinyl and/or polyolefin,     -   the target is rotationally symmetrical,     -   the diameter of the target is between 15 millimetres and 400         millimetres,     -   the target has a diameter of 246 millimetres or 330 millimetres         and a thickness of 50 millimetres.     -   the target has a diameter of 330 millimetres and a thickness of         50 millimetres     -   each peripheral layer forms an arrow catching surface,     -   both peripheral layers (13) are flat and parallel.

Eventually the invention relates to a system including a device for automatically throwing targets, characterized in that said device includes

-   -   a cylinder receiving at least one target,     -   a plate for throwing a target coming from a cylinder,     -   an arm throwing the target placed on the throwing plate,     -   a motor providing rotation of the cylinder and of the throwing         arm.

The appended drawings are given as examples only and are not aiming at limiting the invention. They only represent an exemplary embodiment of the invention and will make it possible to understand it easily.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention equipped with a target in a first position.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the target according to the invention

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the target as per FIG. 3.

The system according to the invention includes targets 2 intended for archery and a device intended to throw the targets 2.

According to one embodiment, the device is mounted on a base 11 which is mounted on a base of a carriage 1, and can be moved as shown in all the figures, or fixed.

The device according to the invention enables an automatic throwing of the targets 2. Automatic throwing means that throwing is carried out without any human action, except for the possible command to actuate the machine.

The device includes a cylinder 3 receiving at least a target 2, a plate 4 throwing the target 2 when it is removed from the cylinder 3, an arm throwing the target 2 on the throwing plate 4 and a motor 9 providing the rotation of the cylinder 3 and of the throwing arm. When the motor 9 is running, a target 2 is automatically extracted from the cylinder 3 and is placed on the throwing plate 4. The motor 9 provides the arming of the throwing arm to throw the target 2 on the throwing plate 4.

In the system according to the invention, the target 2 is adapted to the automatic throwing for a device according to the invention.

The target 2 is made of polymer foam selected among polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene and/or polyvinyl and/or polyolefin etc. The target 2 is advantageously made of a polymer foam, the properties of which enable a sufficient density to have a correct resistance to throwing, a satisfactory perforation by various types of arrows conventionally used in archery, while being re-usable, i.e. the perforation by the arrow must not damage the structure of the target; the target is not deformed.

Advantageously, the target is also not water-deformable, and thus the polymer foam is selected among polymers with low water absorption. The foam materials which the target is made of advantageously resist ultra-violets. The system according to the invention can then be used under any weather conditions and more particularly for outdoor competitions or courses.

The density of the target is preferably selected within the range of 25 Kg/m³ to 160 Kg/m³.

To give you an idea, for archery, a preferably circular target according to the present invention having a diameter of 24.5 cm with two catching surfaces represents a weight of approximately 100 g or 200 g for a diameter of 33 cm. With such a weight, in case of a collision with a person, the resulting damage would be insignificant, or even there would be none.

Such materials do not advantageously deteriorate over time and resist 400 impacts or more, which gives the target an extremely long service life.

The target 2 is advantageously made of a plurality of layers of polymer foam stuck together successively in the thickness of the target 2.

Preferably, the target 2 includes at least a central layer 12 surrounded with at least a peripheral layer 13 on each face.

Characteristically, the target 2 is made of polymer foam.

A different plastic material may be used for the peripheral layers 13 on the one hand and the central layer 12 on the other hand, for example polyethylene for the peripheral layers 13 and another plastic material such as polyurethane for the central layer 12. Other plastic materials may be used, for example, an olefin polymer. However, it is preferred to use polyethylene for the external layers 2 and the internal layer 3 of the target 2, having different densities however, to execute the above-mentioned succession of effects.

The various layers of polymer foam advantageously have different densities. The most central layer must then preferably have the higher density, whereas the more peripheral layers have the lower density. Such a provision of density gradient offers several advantages. Firstly, the fixing of the arrow is optimized. The arrow penetrates into the first layers, having a lower density. Secondly, the resistance of the target 2 over time is improved, since it has a correct mechanical behaviour relative to the central layer 12, having a higher density. The risks of deformation of the target upon the coming of the arrow therethrough or when it is removed are very low. Thirdly, the central layer 12, having a higher density enables a better cooperation with the throwing device according to the invention.

Advantageously, and more particularly in the case of a projectile like an arrow, the density of the material of the central layer 12 is approximately 65 kg/m3, whereas that of the peripheral layers 13 is approximately 33 kg/m3. The maximum density of 65 kg/m3 enables an extraction by the bowman of an arrow having penetrated into the target, while having sufficiently slowed the arrow upon the penetration thereof into the target, whereas the density of 33 kg/m3 for the peripheral layer 13 facilitates the retaining of the arrow in the target 2. Additionally, the central layer 12 with a density of 65 kg/m3 adds rigidity and weight to the target 2 in order to resist mechanical stress during the phase of projection of said target, if need be, the pressure exerted by the throwing device and the abrasion resulting from the friction upon the throwing of the target 2.

As a matter of fact, as described hereinunder, the target 2 is thrown using a throwing arm which thus exerts a force on the target. Advantageously, this throwing force must not deform the target and must not be absorbed by the latter. The central layer 12 having a high density makes it possible for the target to resist the thrust exerted by the throwing arm.

Preferentially, the central layer 12 has a thickness between 20 and 90 millimetres and more particularly of the order of 30 millimetres, so that the throwing arm mainly cooperates with the central layer 12.

As for the peripheral layers 13, a thickness of the order of 7 to 20 millimetres, and in particular 10 millimetres, showed particularly efficient for holding an arrow without the latter going too deep into the target.

Whereas an average technician would have searched for a material providing a compromise between mechanical resistance and arrow penetration capacity, the invention makes a distinction between these two aspects and is interesting in that it provides layers having different functionalities.

Preferably, the target 2 has a circular section, and is rotationally symmetrical. Its diameter is preferably between 15 millimetres and 400 millimetres. It advantageously has the shape of a solid cylinder.

Other forms can be considered, such as an ovoid one for example.

The thickness of the target 2 is between 30 millimetres and 150 millimetres.

Competition targets preferably have a thickness of the order of 50 millimetres and a diameter of the order of 246 millimetres.

The target 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is reversible, i.e. both peripheral layers 13 form a surface catching a target 2, opposite and parallel to each other.

The device of the system according to the invention is adapted to the automatic throwing of the targets 2, as previously described. For this purpose, the device is configured to enable a sufficiently dynamic throwing of the target 2 without damaging it, however. The density must then be precisely selected to limit the compression of the polymer foam during the throwing operation.

Firstly, the cylinder 3 is adapted to the shape of the target 2 to be caught. The cylinder 3 is capable to catch a plurality of stacked targets 2. The cylinder 3 is mounted on the throwing plate 4. The cylinder 3 according to the invention includes at least an internal volume for receiving a stack of targets 2. This receiving internal volume is defined by parallel stops. Such stops are used as guides 5 for each stack of stacked targets 2. According to one embodiment shown in the figures, the cylinder 3 includes five internal volumes for five stacks of stacked targets 2.

According to one alternative solution, the diameter and the shape of the internal volume receiving the stacked targets 2 varies when the position of the guides 5 changes.

The device according to the invention advantageously enables to unload the targets 2 out of the cylinder 3 so that they can be positioned on the throwing plate 4 by gravity only. I.e. the cylinder 3 is placed on the upper face of the throwing plate 4, preferably substantially perpendicular thereto. Then, when the throwing plate 4 is in horizontal position, substantially parallel to the ground, the cylinder 3 is positioned substantially vertically with respect to the ground and the targets 2 are substantially parallel to the throwing plate 4 and can be extracted from the cylinder 3 through the lower end thereof, by gravity only and because of the weight of the target 2.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention includes means for holding the next target 2. Then, when the target 2, i.e. the lowest one in the stack, is ejected onto the upper surface of the throwing plate 4 to be thrown by the throwing arm, the holding means enable the next target 2 to be held in the cylinder 3 and prevent it from falling, also by gravity onto the throwing plate 4.

With the system according to the invention, it is thus essential for the throwing plate 4 to be positioned substantially horizontally when the target 2 is changed on the throwing plate 4.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device is configured to enable the throwing of the target along a trajectory including a component forming an angle between 0 and 90 degrees and advantageously between 0 and 30 degrees with respect to the vertical. The device according to the invention advantageously includes tipping means 6, 7, 8 for orienting the throwing arm and also preferably the throwing plate 4, so that it is positioned so as to form an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to the vertical.

In order to enable this change in the position upon each change in the target 2 and thus upon each throwing, the system according to the invention includes tipping means. The tipping means are fixed, on the one hand on the system base and on the other hand on the device. The tipping means are coupled to the motor 9 so that the tipping is automatic upon each throwing.

Advantageously, the motor 9 is located at the lower part of the throwing plate 4. Similarly, the throwing arm includes a spring 10 positioned at the lower part of the throwing plate 4 and is linked to the motor 9.

The tipping means of the device according to the invention can be made of various elements. A preferred possibility is represented on all the figures. The motor 9 which is fixed at the lower part of the throwing plate 4 is linked to a coupling arm 8 which is in turn linked to the means providing articulation 7 with the tipping arm 6 mounted on the fixed base of the carriage 1.

The throwing plate 4 and the throwing arm are configured to give the target 2 a gyroscopic motion. The trajectory of the target is then homogenous.

The operating steps of the system according to the invention are described hereunder:

The throwing plate 4 is positioned substantially horizontally, and the cylinder 3 is positioned substantially vertically. The target is extracted from the cylinder 3, preferably only for gravity. The target 2 is positioned on the throwing plate 4. The motor 9 enables the tightening of the throwing arm spring 10 as well as the tipping of the throwing plate 4 and of the throwing arm for the tipping means 6, 7, 8 so as to position the throwing plate 4 and the throwing arm in a substantially vertical position or at least forming an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to the vertical. The spring 10 of the throwing arm is released, which causes the throwing of the target 2 in front of the throwing arm. The motor 9 then makes it possible to actuate tipping means so as to return the plate 4 and the cylinder 3 to their initial position, i.e. with the throwing plate 4 substantially horizontal and the cylinder 3 substantially vertical. At the same time, the motor 9 enables the rotation of the cylinder 3 and thus the falling of a new target 2 onto the throwing plate 4; a new target throwing cycle can then be triggered.

REFERENCES

-   -   1. Carriage     -   2. Target     -   3. Cylinder     -   4. Throwing plate     -   5. Guide     -   6. Tipping arm     -   7. Off articulation     -   8. Coupling arm     -   9. Motor     -   10. Spring of the throwing arm     -   11. Base     -   12. Central layer     -   13. Peripheral layer 

1. A target (2) for archery intended to be thrown into the air and capable of being impacted by an arrow characterized in that the target (2) includes at least three layers (12, 13) of polymer foam.
 2. A target (2) according to claim 1, including at least two peripheral layers (13) and at least a central layer (12) interposed between the peripheral layers (13).
 3. A target (2) according claim 2, wherein the central layer (12) has a density higher than the density of the peripheral layers (13).
 4. A target (2) according to the preceding claim 3, wherein the density of the material of the central layer (12) is approximately 65 kg/m3, that of the peripheral layers (13) being approximately 33 kg/m3.
 5. A target (2) according to claim 2, wherein each peripheral layer (13) forms an arrow catching surface.
 6. A target (2) according to claim 2, wherein both peripheral layers (13) are flat and parallel.
 7. A target (2) according to claim 2, wherein the central layer (12) has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral layers (13).
 8. A target (2) according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the central layer (12) is between 20 and 90 millimetres.
 9. A target (2) according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the peripheral layers (13) is between 7 and 20 millimetres.
 10. A target (2) according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the target (2) is between 30 millimetres and 150 millimetres.
 11. A target (2) according to claim 10, wherein the polymer foam forming the target (2) includes at least materials among polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polyethylene and/or polyvinyl and/or polyolefin.
 12. A target (2) according to claim 1, wherein the target (2) is rotationally symmetrical.
 13. A target (2) according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the target (2) is between 15 millimetres and 400 millimetres.
 14. A target (2) according to claim 1, wherein the target (2) has a diameter of 246 millimetres or 330 millimetres and a thickness of 50 millimetres.
 15. A system including a device for automatically throwing targets, according to claim 1, characterized in that said device includes a cylinder (3) receiving at least one target (2), a plate (4) for throwing a target (2) coming from a cylinder (3), an arm throwing the target (2) placed on the throwing plate (4), a motor providing rotation of the cylinder (3) and of the throwing arm. 